Lord Speaker addresses science education conference

Baroness D'Souza will speak to the Conference about the role of the Lord Speaker, the scientific knowledge and expertise within the House, and give advice about how members can raise issues, influence science policy and engage with Members.

Her speech will be followed by a Q&A session which will be chaired by Dr Susan Burr, Chair of the ASE's annual conference, and a freelance independent educational consultant, having worked previously as a secondary science teacher and teacher educator at both the University of Strathclyde and the University of the West of Scotland.

Speaking ahead of her visit, the Lord Speaker said:

“Having studied science myself as an anthropologist, I am very pleased to have been given the honour of addressing the ASE Annual Conference.

“Decisions that are made by Parliamentarians in both Houses affect everyone in the UK at every stage of their life.  Given that science is all around us – as well as a subject very close to my heart – it is vitally important that people in the scientific community, whether they are teachers, science technicians or advisers, understand the work of the House of Lords and how they can engage with us and be involved with what we do.

“Although a large part of my role is presiding over business in the Chamber, another equally important aspect of my job is to explain the work and membership of the House to people who are largely unaware of it, or think of it as an institution still filled with aristocrats, which it certainly is not these days.

“I hope that everyone who comes along will benefit from the event, so that they can engage more strategically with Parliament, and the House of Lords in particular, on science issues.”